Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338-06 or 358 win or neither?

It’s winter and I’m looking for a project. I’m considering a couple.

1. Rem 700 Mountain rifle I picked up here in 30-06. Price was great and it turns out it shoots and fits me well. Already have another 30-06 so that niche has been filled and was considering having the mountain rifle rebored to 338-06, little more oomph. For future elk hunts and the occasional bear(Black not brown). JES would do the work.

2. Bergera woodsman in 308, again rebored by JES , to 358 win. Rifle is great, always felt a little chunky so not what I would grab for a long backpack hunt or anything I would take out for long range shooting out west. I used to have a 358 savage 99 but it didn’t fit me and was a punisher to shoot. Would love to have another 358 for a PA deer/bear gun that packs a punch and for something a little different than the norm.

3. Neither, it’s winter and I can’t hunt so I’m looking for something to do. Just go to the gym a few more times a week till spring arrives and I can chase turkey.

What’s your opinion?

Neither

.358 Win

Well, I am a fan of the .338-06, being on my third one, so that would be my choice. Ammo and brass are readily available these days, which makes it more enjoyable to play with. It is a good elk cartridge and would also be more than adequate for any black bear you might want to tag.

And, everyone needs a winter project.

Neither....I’d go 35 Whelen personally.

Yup.

Though I am not recoil “shy” I think a stout whelen charge pushing heavies( where I think the whelen shines) would be much in my lightweight mountain rifle. I keep thinking the 338-06 would hit a sweet spot.

Long action -> 9.3x62

Short action -> 338 FED

You already have the donors to do both. Why not do both?

There isn't much meat in a 700 Mountain Rifle contour for reboring.

Seems your Mountain Rifle '06 barrel would end up "awfully thin" if you have it bored out to .338? I bet the Bergara has more meat in the barrel. You "could" have the Bergara bored out to the .338 Federal and have the best of both. 358"esq" performance in the woods and with the Barnes 160-185 able to go "out West" and hunt anything you would with the 338/06....just another option for you. Leave the '06 alone.

There's not a single .35cal boolit worth a fhuqk. Hint.

The .338" bore sizing is flooded with Skookum bullets. Hint.

Pass the 7-08 and hold the Fluff.

Hint................

I've owned 338-06 and 35 Whelen in the past. Both have recoil almost identical to 300 WM and I came to the conclusion my 30-06 loaded with 200 gr and heavier bullets would do exactly the same thing. If I'm getting 300 WM recoil, then I'll shoot a 300 WM.

Every time I look at 338 Fed or 358 I come to the same conclusion that they don't do anything a 308 won't do and for the same reasons. And 30-06 beats both of them with about the same recoil.

There are very good reasons why none of those have ever become mainstream, and never will. But at the same time they will kill stuff and if you just want to be different from the masses there is nothing wrong with that either. I'm content to keep life simple. But if I were tempted to go that route again I'd go back to 338-06.

Bullets matter wayyyyyyyyy more than headstamps.

Pass the .284" 180 ELD and hold the Fluff.

Hint..................

Hard to rebore “ down”

For the rebore Entry Fee,you are a goodly ways towards a Top End S/S spout. From there,you get to spec chamber dimensioning,along with RPM...while banking S/S all along.

Same goes a 280 build on the Twat-Six Donor and it of course benefits from VERY forgiving COAL latitude,which connects dots nicely.

Hint.................

if you want a thumper.
9.3x62.
guys on here are getting 250 grain Accu bonds at 2600+ fps. that' very similar balistics drop of 180 grain out of 30-06 at 2700 fps..... but a lot more thump.

Adding recoil,expense and Stupidity,don't connect dots.

Hint...............

Pass the 250 grain Nosler Partition or Swift A-Frame in the .338/06. In the .358 a 225 Nosler Partition or Swift A-Frame. Those will beat the hell out of a "boutique" bullet any day.

I like all the Rounds Mentioned,
But a mountain Rifle in 30,06 would be just fine as is. But if there is not enough barrel for the re bore you could probably find something to ,trade for.. Its surprising what you might find a good deal on in 06. I got into a pre 64 06 for 550,00 . Some body Refinished the stock and cericoated it before i found it. That might make a great 338,06. and they are not hard to find.